Isle of Man
co-driver Rob Fagg endured a frustrating time on last
Saturday’s RSAC Scottish Rally, the fourth round of the UK
Kick Energy Fiesta SportTrophy. Once again alongside
Irishman Kyle Orr for the Dumfries based event, they would
reach the finish in an unsatisfying 5th place.
For the second and final time this season the Fiesta
competitors would contest an event outside of the British
Championship, and as a result of this they would not have
the opportunity to complete a reconnaissance of the stages
prior to the event.
Instead they had to rely on notes provided by the organisors,
and it would be this that would prove to be the downfall of
the Saturday Car Seller.com backed crew.
Heading into the event Orr led the championship, and a
strong result was vital to maintain his challenge. In hot
overcast conditions that would really test the crews as the
event progressed, Orr and Neteller.com supported Fagg posted
the second quickest time over the opening 8 mile
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Orr and Fagg
head for fifth on last Saturdays RSAC Scottish Rally. |
stage, although 14 seconds down on rival Kris Hall. Just one second
behind was the in form Craig Breen, followed by Mark Donnelly
rounding out the top four.
A quick service and time to regroup, and it was then onto the short
0.7 mile spectator stage. With nothing to be really gained and
everything lost, the leading Fiesta crews were separated by a
handful of seconds.
Things were to get no better for Orr and Fagg as they continued to
struggle with the organsiors pace notes. |
“Kyle is really struggling to get into the notes and as a
result can not commit” commented Fagg following stage 3,
“There is not much we can do apart from try our best and
push on when we can see, but it’s going to be tough to keep
with the others.”
Hall would increase his lead following stage 3 and despite
dropping time on stage 4 would reach the second service
still in the lead. But second was now Matt Edwards with
Breen dropping to fifth after catching another competitor’s
dust. Kyle and Rob slipping to fourth.
The final two stages made up almost half the event mileage
and again proved a tough time, despite a strong push they
were unable to claw any time back on Donnelly ahead of them.
They would also be demoted to there final position of 5th
following two quick times by Breen would would eventually
take second behind Hall with Edwards third.
“Today just has not been our day, Kyle has been unable to
commit to the notes at all and we could not have hoped to be
in the fight for the win”, explained Rob at the finish in
Dumfries, “He though does leave here as the joint leader and
I have climbed to fourth in the co-driver standings, next up
the Isle of Man and hopefully home support can bring some
luck.
Rally Isle of Man on the 10th – 11th
July will see Rob team up with Matt Edwards for the next
round of the UK Kick Energy Fiesta SportTrophy following
uncertainty surrounding the participation of regular driver
Orr on the event and remainder of the season.
Rob is supported by Manx Telecom,
NETeller (www.NETeller.com),
Robert Graham & Co Quantity Surveyors,
www.Mexperience.com,
Nicky Grist Motorsport (www.nickygrist.com),
Fastime Stopwatchs (www.astopwatch.com)
and G8 Products (www.g8products.co.uk) |
